Southeast Mexico Research Articles

Shaping Identities through the Transformative Effect of EFL Learning

This research aims to contribute to the field of language learning with providing a deeper understanding of how the English language could influence the professional identity of a group of five students of a BA in English at a University in the Southeast of Mexico. The collection of data was carried through semi-structured interviews to explore the phenomenon of identity construction in depth. The findings are divided into four categories that emerged from the analysis: Background information, English perceptions, Professional Identity and Culture. Overall, various factors that influenced the participants’ identities were discovered, along with the deficiency of the Mexican educational system when it comes to teaching languages. Additionally, the potential benefits for the participants’ lives due to its proficiency in English are presented.

Pre-service English teachers’ learning traits

The present study aimed to characterize a comprehensive learning profile of pre-service teachers at an English teacher education programme of a public university in Southeast Mexico. The learning attributes comprise their English entry level, learning strategies and styles, learning approaches, and learning preferences. The research design was non-experimental, descriptive transectional, with a single data collection procedure during the August 2023 term. Four learning scales and two placement tests were used to identify the predominant learning traits of the cohort studied. The results show a preference to use cognitive learning strategies more than any other type. In terms of learning styles, the findings show that most participants are primarily aural, but some students are bi- and even tri-oriented. In terms of their learning preferences, most students identified as analytical. Regarding learning approaches, most students typically employ a deep approach, which could be quite inadequate because they depend more on surface strategies.

Strengthening Community Resilience in the Face of Environmental and Economic Challenges in Southeast Mexico

Objective: The problems in the sustainable management of natural resources in their fishing practices in the community of Aztlán Quinta Seccion Palomillal in Tabasco, Mexico, are analyzed to develop community solutions and improve sustainability and socioeconomic results. Theoretical Framework: It is based on the theory of sustainability (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 43), the natural resources management model (Natural Resources Commission, 2012, p. 3) and the theory of participatory research (Reason & Bradbury, 2008, p. These frameworks are the context in which fishing practices are developed in the community, serving as a relevant case study for southeastern Mexico, facilitating the analysis of the problems and proposed solutions. Method: A qualitative case study design focused on community-based participatory research was applied, involving key community actors, including fishermen and leaders of the fishing cooperative. Data collection was through semi-structured interviews, focus groups and participant observation. The interviews were designed to learn about challenges in resource management, while focus groups facilitated discussions about possible solutions. Participant observations were carried out during community meetings and the sociocultural and environmental context. Results and Discussion: The problems of sediment accumulation, the presence of invasive species, the lack of adequate infrastructure and low educational levels were identified. There is an urgency to implement strategies that combine traditional knowledge with modern practices to improve the sustainability of fishing activities. The importance of community participation is highlighted. Research Implications: It has significant practical and theoretical implications for sustainable resource management in rural fishing communities and can be applied in other similar rural contexts and contributes to the theoretical development of community-based participatory research. Originality/Value: An innovative community-based participatory research approach is applied for sustainable natural resource management in a rural fishing community, replicable for sustainable resource management in vulnerable contexts.

The Maya Train: Infrastructure and Racial Capitalism in Southeast Mexico

AbstractIn this paper, I illustrate the interplay between infrastructure and racialised differentiation through the case of the Maya Train—a contentious megaproject aimed at constructing 1,554 km of rail tracks across southeast Mexico, led by the López Obrador federal administration. Drawing on an analysis of narratives produced by the state, I argue that the Maya Train sustains and reproduces racial capitalism. The argument is developed by putting Gargi Bhattacharyya's and Nancy Fraser's understanding of the racial capitalism framework in conversation with Mónica Moreno Figueroa's conceptualisation of mestizaje. I show how the Maya Train functions as a project of mestizaje by promising homage, social justice, and development while also acting as a homogenising and oppressive force. The racialising practices embedded in the megaproject reproduce and extend colonial legacies in a heartland of expropriation and are transformed into materiality through the power of the state.

Reptile Diversity Patterns Under Climate and Land Use Change Scenarios in a Subtropical Montane Landscape in Mexico

ABSTRACTAimMountainous regions are rich in reptile biodiversity but face threats from climate and land use changes. Understanding how these factors affect reptile diversity in these regions can highlight key conservation hotspots that require effective conservation actions. Here, we explored reptile taxonomic and functional diversity patterns along the Sierra Madre del Sur region in southeast Mexico, and potential changes in future years caused by different climate and land use change scenarios.LocationSierra Madre del Sur, México.TaxonReptiles.MethodsWe used species distribution models and information on species traits to estimate taxonomic and functional diversity throughout the Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS) region under current and future climate and land use change scenarios.ResultsGreater taxonomic and functional diversity was observed in both temperate and tropical forests. Taxonomic diversity was higher in more drier areas at high elevations while higher functional diversity was observed in wetter areas at intermediate‐to‐high elevations. Lower diversity for both dimensions was associated with anthropic land uses. In future scenarios, both dimensions of diversity are expected to increase in temperate forest in highlands of central Oaxaca and decrease in the southcentral portion of the SMS, particularly for the worst scenarios due to increased deforestation rates.Main ConclusionsHigher taxonomic diversity in more drier areas at high elevations could be due to historical and evolutionary factors, while higher functional diversity in wetter areas at intermediate‐to‐high elevations may be explained by a higher environmental heterogeneity in forests within these conditions. Larger diversity losses in the southcentral portion of the SMS are probably due to larger predicted deforestation rates in those areas. Our results are valuable not just for informing conservation actions, such as the creation of protected natural areas but also to understand the underlying processes behind the patterns of reptile diversity.

Prevalence of Cardiotoxicity Secondary to Trastuzumab in Patients with HER-2-Positive Breast Cancer in Southeast Mexico

In Mexico, breast cancer (BC) is the principal cause of death in women over 30 years old, with an annual mortality rate of 14.61 deaths per a 100,000 population. Chemotherapy, in combination with trastuzumab (TTZ), improves the survival of cancer patients; however, cardiotoxicity (CT) is the principal consequence. CT prevalence occurs between 10% and 30% of patients; however, there are no data about the prevalence of CT in the Mexican population. This study aims to establish the prevalence of CT in patients treated with anti-HER-2 therapy among BC women in southeast Mexico. A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out from January 2015 to July 2019. The records of 46 patients diagnosed with HER-2-positive BC who attended the Mexican Social Security Institute in the Ambulatory Care Medicine Unit were analyzed. The diagnostic criterion for CT was a decrease in LVEF > 10% from baseline or a final LVEF < 53%. CT prevalence was observed in 19 (41.3%) of women with cancer, with an average decrease in LVEF of 13%. In the population, we found an association between weight, surface area, and the loading dose of TTZ with CT. Nutritional follow-up and the administration of cardioprotective drugs are necessary to recover LVEF and avoid cardiovascular failure in women with BC and survivors.

IRF5 Variants Are Risk Factors for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Two Mexican Populations.

Interferon regulatory factor 5 ( IRF5 ) is one of the pivotal genes implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among diverse ethnic groups, including Europeans, Asians, Hispanics, and Africans. Notably, its significance appears particularly pronounced among Hispanic populations. Previous studies have identified several single-nucleotide variants within IRF5 , such as rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, and rs10954213G/A, as associated with susceptibility to SLE among patients from Mexico City. However, the population of Yucatan, located in the Southeast of Mexico and characterized by a greater Amerindian genetic component, remains largely unexplored in this regard. Our study aimed to replicate the observed association between IRF5 variants and susceptibility to SLE among patients from Central Mexico and Yucatan. Furthermore, we investigated the impact of IRF5 rs59110799G/T, a variant that has not been previously studied in SLE individuals. Our study included 204 SLE patients and 160 controls from Central Mexico, as well as 184 SLE patients and 184 controls from Yucatan. All participants were females 18 years and older. We employed a TaqMan assay to detect the presence of the following single-nucleotide variants: rs2004640G/T, rs2070197T/C, rs10954213G/A, and rs59110799G/T. Furthermore, we utilized 2 distinct web tools and databases to predict the potential functional implications of IRF5 variants. In SLE patients from Central Mexico, several IRF5 alleles showed significant associations with the disease following adjustment by the Bonferroni test: the rs2070197C allele (odds ratio [OR], 2.08), the rs10954213A allele (OR, 1.59), and the rs59110799G allele (OR, 1.71). Conversely, among patients from Yucatan, the following alleles showed associations: rs2004640T (OR, 1.51), rs2070197C (OR, 1.62), rs10954213A (OR, 1.67), and rs59110799G (OR, 1.44). Our findings highlight genetic variations between Mexican populations and emphasize the role of IRF5 as a risk factor in SLE patients from both Central Mexico and Yucatan.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF Moringa oleifera Lam. IN SOUTHEASTERN MEXICO

Moringa oleifera Lam. is a plant with nutritional and nutraceutical properties. It was introduced from India to Mexico, and some of its ecotypes are cultivated for industrial use. These ecotypes show morphological variations, indicating genetic variation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate eight simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci to assess the genetic diversity of 10 cultivated M. oleifera populations collected from the southeast of Mexico. All markers generated a total of 127 alleles, with 15.8 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content of markers was 0.869, with an average heterozygosity of 0.194. At the population level, the Nei´s gene diversity was found to be 0.66, with 4.9 different alleles per locus and 5.2 genotypes on average per accession. The distribution of genetic variation was 20 % among populations, 58 % between individuals, and 22 % within individuals. The principal coordinate analysis (PcoA) plot and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) linkage revealed three groups, corresponding to the three original genetic populations identified through structure analysis (Delta K = 3). Results showed significant differences in genetic diversity in M. oleifera populations stablished in Southeastern Mexico, which can be leveraged to increase the use of this germplasm.

Performance indicators of the red grouper (Epinephelus morio) fishery along the Yucatan coast, Southeast Mexico

This study assesses the Fishery Performance Indicators (FPI) of the red grouper fishery, currently overexploited, aiming to identify factors for sustainable management and economic growth. Evaluation spans commercial and recreational fishing activities and encompasses output indicators focusing on ecology, economy, and community, through 68 metrics, including measures related to stock abundance, ecosystem impacts (e.g., habitat degradation, bycatch rates), and social aspects (e.g., community participation in management). Input indicators assess enabling conditions such as diseases, water quality, air pollution, biodiversity, etc. Scoring involved reviewing fishery data and information from various sources including scientific literature, technical reports from workshops and meetings, journalistic notes, databases, and unpublished data; with each metric scored according to its specific system. The red grouper fishery exhibits strengths in harvest and community involvement but grapples with stock and ecological concerns. Medium-size fleet perform adequately, yet challenges arise from aging vessels and market fluctuations. Artisanal fleet encounter issues like illegal fishing and economic struggles, while recreational fishing faces stock and ecological worries. Persistent environmental and governance challenges underscore deficiencies in management practices and fishing markets. Enhancing the red grouper fishery requires fair pricing, effective stock management, and sustainability efforts in co-management, fisheries management, and post-harvest processes. Improving gear selectivity is crucial for effective stock management, involving minimizing catches of juvenile red grouper and incidental species. Insufficient bargaining power results in an unfair market and disadvantages for fishermen, leading to losses. To address these issues, it is essential to diversify market channels, stabilize prices, and advocate for fair pricing mechanisms. Empowering fishermen through collective bargaining and regulating credit agreements can ensure fairness. Additionally, policy interventions are necessary to support fishermen and foster a more equitable industry.

Assessing Smartphone Addiction among Mexican Students: Insights, Implications, and Interventions in the Era of Mobile Learning and Virtual Environments

This study conducted a new adaptation of the short version of the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS-SV) for the Mexican population. The scale exhibited excellent internal consistency (α = .88), with one factor explaining 54.8% of the variance. 286 students aged 15 to 35 years of age from central and southeast Mexico revealed a prevalence of 30% excessive users (18% men, 12% women). They used smartphones primarily for communication, social media, entertainment, productivity, and browsing the Internet. No gender differences were found; however, a significant association with age emerged (rho = .221, p < .001). Withdrawal (72.7% women) and tolerance (80.8% men) were common symptoms of addiction, while ignorance of consequences was less frequent (33.3% women, 30.8% men). The prevalence of potential excessive use of smartphones was close to the average identified in the reviewed studies. The results revealed a substantial risk of addiction to smartphones, particularly among men. Finally, the successful adaptation of the scale offers a valuable instrument for future study and clinical evaluation. These findings can guide targeted interventions and educational programs tailored to different groups. Additionally, recognition of common symptoms of addiction allows individuals to identify and address potential problems at an early stage. However, more study is needed to validate the findings and explore additional contributing factors in the Mexican context.

Organizational Climate In The Hotel Industry Sector: Perceptions In The Southeast Of Mexico

Organizational Climate In The Hotel Industry Sector: Perceptions In The Southeast Of Mexico

COVID-19 Educational Side Effects: Pre-service EFL Teachers' Use of Digital Education Tools

Recent research has revealed the complexities of incorporating technology tools into lessons, despite the creation of several platforms and applications for education (Wen & Hua, 2020). The radical shift from traditional to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic compelled teachers and students to develop technical skills to adapt to this new reality. This study explores the impact of this phenomenon on the perspectives of Pre-Service (PS) English language teachers (students in a teacher-training program), regarding the use of technology to support their own English language learning (ELL) process. To achieve this, an explanatory sequential mixed-method approach was employed. A questionnaire consisting of seven Likert scale statements and six open-ended questions was administered to 32 PS teachers from the English Language B.A program at a major public university in Southeast Mexico. Subsequently, eight participants were interviewed. The results indicated that despite most participants having prior knowledge of technological tools and educational platforms before the pandemic, they did not utilize them to support their ELL. However, the findings also revealed a positive response from participants towards continuing to use digital platforms due to perceived benefits experienced during Emergency Remote Teaching. These findings provide additional evidence concerning English learning and teaching and how classes can be more effective and significant using platforms and applications if classrooms are well equipped.

Methodological design for the development of strategies to improve the quality of life of artisans: A study in Southeast Mexico

El objetivo de este artículo fue proponer, con base en una revisión bibliográfica, estrategias que mejoren la calidad de vida de los artesanos en el tramo 2 del Tren Maya (municipios de Calkiní, Hecelchakán y Tenabo, en el estado de Campeche). Si bien el estudio se enfoca en estos tres municipios, sentaría un precedente metodológico en la región y generaría evidencia novedosa para fundamentar políticas incluyentes que mejoren la calidad de vida en estas poblaciones vulnerables.

Cultural heritage and local and regional development in the Southeast of Mexico

Cultural heritage and local and regional development in the Southeast of Mexico

Using traveling festivals to mobilize primate conservation education.

Environmental education aims to foster knowledge, awareness, and appreciation for nature and can encompass various formats, including festivals. The traveling festival "Changos y Monos va a tu comunidad" is inspired by previous initiatives and aims to promote the conservation of primates in southeast Mexico. The festival involved focused activities, mainly for children, such as talks, games, and exhibitions. It has been held on ten occasions, reaching approximately 700 people from nine localities. Unlike other events, its execution does not require a large budget due to the short duration, the use of small spaces, and because it can be conducted in parallel with field research, which has facilitated its funding. Although no systematic evaluation of the impact of this initiative has been conducted, it is evident that the festival gained notoriety among people in various locations in the region, suggesting "Changos y Monos va a tu comunidad" represents a significant contribution to the conservation of wild Mexican primates.

Influence of didactic strategies in the learning of biochemistry in students of a university in the Mexican Southeast

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the teaching strategies used by teachers in teaching biochemistry and the level of learning achieved by students. The teaching-learning process in higher education institutions must adapt to the current demands and requirements of a constantly changing society. University students who study biochemistry need to develop skills that encourage self-learning. The research was carried out with 115 students from a university in the southeast of Mexico, (USoM), to observe and describe a phenomenon. Since there was no control or manipulation of variables, we classify this study as descriptive and "ex post facto," given that the phenomenon had already occurred. Students primarily developed their competencies in comprehension (37%) and analysis (33%). However, when applying for a pilot exam, the majority of responses focused on the aspects of knowledge (36%) and understanding (32%). The present study was carried out under the ethical conditions of informed consent of the participants, promulgated in the Declaration of Helsinki. The participation was voluntary, it was developed with an attitude of empathy, and respect, emotional support, and understanding. The confidentiality and privacy of participants were protected at all times. According to the results observed, a transformation in the didactic strategies employed in the teaching of Biochemistry in the Health Science courses in Mexican universities is suggested.

Morphological and molecular data on helminths of Didelphis virginiana and Philander vossi (Mammalia: Didelphidae) from the Yucatán Peninsula, southeast Mexico

In the present study, helminths from six Didelphis virginiana and one Philander vossi are reported using morphological techniques (clearing, staining, and scanning electron microscopy). Additionally, the 28S rRNA sequences of individuals from nine helminth taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with the new 28S rRNA sequences to confirm the identification and the genealogical relationships of the parasites. Thirteen helminth taxa were identified, comprising the trematodes Brachylaima sp. and Platynosomum illiciens, the cestode Mathevotaenia sp., the nematodes Cruzia americana, Cruzia tentaculata, Viannaia arriaguensis, Viannaia sp., Travassostrongylus sp., Strongyloides sp., Turgida turgida, Trichuris minuta, and Trichuris sp., and the acanthocephalan Oligacanthorhynchus microcephalus. All opossums were infected with at least four helminth taxa. In total, 17 new 28S rRNA sequences from nine helminth taxa were provided. These data, combined with previous records in Mexico, increase the number of helminth taxa parasitizing D. virginiana and P. vossi to 41 and 29, respectively. However, these reports are incompletes and concentered in localities of some states. It is possible that new surveys in the Nearctic and even Neotropical regions will reveal a higher helminth diversity in these mammals in the country.

Advances on the taxonomy of Megalostrata Karsch, 1880 (Araneae, Corinnidae, Corinninae), with descriptions of two new species

Two new species of Megalostrata Karsch, 1880 are described: M. paludosa spec. nov. based on male and female specimens gathered in mangrove swamps in the Colombian Caribbean, and M. pacifica spec. nov., based on a female specimen from Heredia, Costa Rica. Megalostrata monistica (Chamberlin, 1924) from the Mexican west coast is redescribed, M. bruneri (Bryant, 1936) from the Island of Cuba is re-diagnosed based on photographs of the holotype, and the female of M. depicta (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895) from Southeast Mexico is described for the first time. The known range of M. raptor (L. Koch, 1866), which was previously known from the Central American mainland, is extended to Curaçao, Caribbean Netherlands. A distribution map and key to the six known species of Megalostrata are also provided.

#2977 Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in a second level care hospital in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Abstract Background and Aims Pregnancy-related acute kidney injury (PRAKI) is a public health problem associated with an increased risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The causes of PRAKI varies according to the age of gestation. Mexico lacks a national acute kidney injury (AKI) registry, and the access to AKI treatment is limited due to lack of financial coverage, lack of nephrologists, and poor infrastructure. The General Hospital Dr. Agustín O'Horán is a second level unit that attends to the uninsured pregnant population from the southeast of Mexico. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of PRAKI in a Mexican population. Method This was a retrospective study in an obstetric intensive care unit (OICU) in the General Hospital Dr. Agustín O'Horán in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Women during pregnancy and postpartum periods admitted to the OICU between January to December 2023 were included. Demographical, clinical and laboratory data were collected from medical records, and AKI was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) creatinine criteria. We evaluated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of PRAKI. Results During the study period, 188 women were admitted to the OICU, and the mean age was 24.9 years. Eight women presented in the first trimester, 19 in the second trimester, 21 in the third trimester, and 140 in the postpartum period. Fifty-five women met AKI creatinine criteria: 31 (56.3%) had stage 1, 15 (27.3%) had stage 2, and 9 (16.4%) had stage 3. The most common causes of PRAKI were obstetric hemorrhage (27.3%), eclampsia (21.8%), and preeclampsia (18.2%) (Table 1). There was no difference in vital signs on admission and baseline creatinine level between both groups. Women who developed PRAKI had a longer stay in the OICU (4.2 days vs 2.3 days, p < 0.001), and greater use of vasopressor (30.9% vs 9.0%, p < 0.001), and mechanical ventilation (34.5% vs 11.3%, p < 0.001). Women with AKI had higher mortality (9.1% vs 1.5%, p = 0.012), and perinatal mortality (9.1% vs 2.3%, p = 0.035) (Table 2). Conclusion Women during pregnancy and postpartum periods who developed PRAKI had more adverse clinical and obstetric outcomes (maternal and perinatal mortality). Hence, women in pregnancy and postpartum periods admitted to an intensive care unit should be closely monitored and implement strategies for early diagnosis and aggressive therapy of PRAKI regardless of KDIGO stage.

Connecting Water Quality and Ecosystem Services for Valuation and Assessment of a Groundwater Reserve Area in South-East Mexico

Even though the role of ecosystem services is known, the identification and assessment of water-related services is usually absent or often less represented as an ecosystem service. Progress in water quality indicator definition and compliance with regulations has been made; however, the relationship between water quality degradation and benefits to individuals and ecosystems remains little recognized. Here, we present an assessment of water quality and identification of ecosystem services in south-east Mexico. This study was performed within the geohydrological reserve zone of the Ring of Sinkholes, Yucatán Peninsula. Thirteen ecosystem services provided by the aquifer were identified. Water quality was evaluated in sinkholes based on national and international norms, considering different sinkhole uses. Results show a dynamic system, without saltwater intrusion and good to excellent water quality. The research demonstrates the relationship between ecosystem services and water quality, showing pressure in services related to uses for aquatic life protection and to a lesser extent those related to consumption. Current productive activities showed no pressure at this time. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) exhibited a significant difference in parameters and campaigns, but not between sinkholes. A long-lasting monitoring program for water quality is necessary to accurately evaluate the status of ecosystem services provided by the aquifer. Moreover, it is necessary to assess aquifers as ecosystems with economic, ecologic and socio-cultural importance. Effective water governance requires a balance of interests between all parties, within a legal and institutional framework.